Good catch, wrv! Indeed, Erin Dees, GK, from Illinois, is on the Big Master Database!

She has big-time international experience and looks like she could be an elite national recruit. By 2010, Kelsey will gone, and Hailee will either be a redshirt junior, if she doesn't play a lick this year, or a senior. The right time to add a Keeper.

So now let the sleuthing begin. The database has been right on this year, hasn't it? A confirming article or quote from a separate publication wouldn't hurt, but at first take, I'd say it looks like we've got another great GK in the fold.

Thanks Fanatic . . .I am just a little disappointed to see that the usual suspects have yet to post the scoop on the Pilot's latest commitment. I do recall that Loren Orlando/Hanson made a recruiting trip to Chicago--was that to recruit our goalie?

I guess I have been remiss. The thing is, I don't have a lot to add about Erin. When there were reports that Lisa Sari went to the Chicago area (not Lauren), I put all the ODP players in the area on the list to search, it's just that nothing linking her to Portland came up until now. Whatever information that came up on BS is the first I've ben able to confirm that it was her who committed.

There's no doubt she's a great catch. She's tall (5'9", about the same size as Hailee and still growing), and from the reports I read a difference maker. She's ODP, US u15 YNT, played for club National Youth championships, all the stuff you want in the resumť for a good keeper. There's no question she's passed the youth tests.

Much beyond that, I can't really say, because there haven't been That many reports on her in the National scene.

I guess part of the issue is that kids are committing so young, I haven't figured out how to properly research them. Often clubs keep information on younger players more private, for obvious reasons.

I just have confidence that the coaches have landed another great one, and just sit here with a smile on my face.

Last edited by Purplegeezer on Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:50 pm; edited 1 time in total

wrv, i was also going to say that it was lisa sari who was on the recruiting trip to the heartland. an at the time i posted that detail, geez came up with 3-4 names of players the pilots might be recruiting. i beleive that a couple of those players were gk. i have tried mightily to find the original article that stated lisa was in chicago on a recruiting trip, but alas, i cannot find it.

The Oregonian did the article, which Stoney put up on the board in this post. I'm not sure I actually named names. I just said there were four ODP players in the area that needed watching, (with perhaps a link) and it was in a post I did on how to sleuth recruits (which of course I can't find).

PG, FW, MJ: well, thanks for the info and the correction. I too "googled" her name but nothing came up that was not already posted or known. I am sure her name will crop up from time to time in the next year. Not too bad a sign that she played with the national team for her age group.

wrv, I think its an outstanding sign that she is playing for the youth national team. If you want to see what that kind of experience that can do for a player just look at Keelin, Elli and Michelle. Their international experience put them at a different level this year. To have a player coming in with that same experience is such a blessing because she should be able to step right in as a freshman.

TopDrawerSoccer released it list of top 100 recruits 2010 today. Before I continue, I should preface that I consider TopDrawer's list too be at best incomplete. There are tons of great players who never make the list for the simple reason that TopDrawer doesn't really get around that much. He appears to get most of his info from the "big Name" camps and showcases, or at Youth National Championships which are heavy with "name" clubs. Players who don't go there for various reasons, don't get on the list. Also, it's a list that is heavy on three or four soccer "hot spots". Keep in mind that Keelin and Kassi never made this list.

Having said that, two of our three Known recruits are on the list. Ellen Parker (39) and Eris Dees (53) both garnered four star ratings, Which puts them comfortably in the 100 list. For comparison, Courtney Verloo also had a four star rating. The coaches went after these players quite a while ago, so it at least shows they have an eye for talent, and as the success of our players who haven't made the list demonstrates, I think it shows the recruiting staff might be doing better than TopDrawer.

Garrett and Bill's recruiting is probably the best in the country. Which is why we get recruiting classes that look on paper only to be 5 or ten best when in fact they perform like the Number ones year after year. Garrett gets players that are right for the school and right for the team and he trumps coaches that rely soley on marquee players. UP's Canada connection doesn't hurt as Coach Ellis figured out with Kara Lang.

Which leads me to another subject. UCLA got Lang because she was able to make a deal to live off campus and get reimbursed for living expenses (rent, utilities and food etc.) The policy at UP is you can only get tuition scholarship if the player wants to live off campus. I think this policy puts UP at a disadvantage in recruitiing. Does anyone know the reason why?

Auto Pilot wrote:Garrett and Bill's recruiting is probably the best in the country. Which is why we get recruiting classes that look on paper only to be 5 or ten best when in fact they perform like the Number ones year after year. Garrett gets players that are right for the school and right for the team and he trumps coaches that rely soley on marquee players. UP's Canada connection doesn't hurt as Coach Ellis figured out with Kara Lang.

Which leads me to another subject. UCLA got Lang because she was able to make a deal to live off campus and get reimbursed for living expenses (rent, utilities and food etc.) The policy at UP is you can only get tuition scholarship if the player wants to live off campus. I think this policy puts UP at a disadvantage in recruitiing. Does anyone know the reason why?

If Lang did get reimbursed for off campus living expenses, it's a violation of NCAA rules. NCAA rules specifically prohibit the granting of free or reduced housing, much less utilities, as part of an NCAA scholarship package. The basic principle is that a school may not offer anything by way of room , board, or expenses that it doesn't offer a non athlete.

Here is an excerpt:

16.5 HousIng AnD MeALs 16.5.1 general rule. An institution is required to apply the same housing policies to student-athletes as it applies to the student body in general. During the academic year, the institution may not house student-athletes in athletics dormitories or athletics blocks within institutional or privately owned dormitories or apartment build- ings (when the institution arranges for the housing) on those days when institutional dormitories are open to the general student body. (Adopted: 10/1/01 effective 8/1/02) 16.5.1.1 Athletics Dormitories. Athletics dormitories shall be defined as institutional dormitories in which at least 50 percent of the residents are student-athletes. (Adopted: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/96; Revised: 11/1/01 effec- tive 8/1/02) 16.5.1.2 Athletics Blocks. Athletics blocks shall be defined as individual blocks, wings or floors within in- stitutional dormitories or privately owned dormitories or apartment buildings in which at least 50 percent of the residents are student-athletes. (Adopted: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/96; Revised: 1/10/92, 11/1/01 effective 8/1/02) 16.5.1.3 ExceptionóNondiscriminatory Housing Policies. The prohibition against the use of athlet- ics dormitories or blocks does not apply when the institution demonstrates that its housing assignment policies do not differentiate between student-athletes and students generally. (Adopted: 1/16/93 effective 8/1/96; Revised: 11/1/01 effective 8/1/02) 16.5.2 Permissible. Identified housing and meal benefits incidental to a studentís participation in intercol- legiate athletics that may be financed by the institution are: (a) Summer-Dormitory Rentals. An institution may rent, at the regular institutional rate, dormitory space to a prospective or enrolled student-athlete during the summer months if it is the institutionís policy to make dormitory space available on the same basis to all prospective or enrolled students (see Bylaw 15.2.2.3 for permissible housing benefits for student-athletes eligible to receive financial aid while attending summer school); (b) Preseason Practice Expenses. The institution may provide the cost of room and board to student-athletes who report for preseason practice prior to the start of the academic year, it being understood that the student- athlete has been accepted for admission to the institution at the time such benefits are received. Further, an institution, at its discretion, may provide an additional meal (as opposed to the cash equivalent) to student- athletes to meet their nutritional needs as a benefit incidental to participation during the preseason practice period prior to the start of the academic year; (Revised: 4/24/03, 3/10/04) (c) Training Table Meals. An institution may provide only one training table meal per day to a student-ath- lete during the academic year on those days when regular institutional dining facilities are open (see Bylaw 15.2.2.1.6). A student-athlete who does not receive institutional athletically related financial aid covering the full cost of board, including a walk-on or partial scholarship recipient, may purchase one training table meal per day at the same rate that the institution deducts from the board allowance of student-athletes who receive athletically related financial aid covering board costs pursuant to Bylaw 15.2.2.1.6; (Adopted: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/96, Revised: 11/1/01 effective 8/1/02, 5/8/06, 4/26/07) (d) Meals Incidental to Participation. (1) Missed Meal Due to Practice Activities. A student-athlete who is not receiving athletically related fi- nancial aid (e.g., walk-on) may receive the benefit of a training-table meal during the permissible playing and practice season in those instances in which the student-athleteís schedule is affected by involvement in practice activities, provided the student-athlete previously has paid for the same meal (e.g., dinner) at an institutional dining facility. (Revised: 5/9/06) (2) Meals in Conjunction with Home Competition. All student-athletes are permitted to receive meals at the institutionís discretion beginning with the evening before competition and continuing until they are released by institutional personnel. An institution shall not provide cash to student-athletes in lieu of meals during this time period. An institution, at its discretion, may provide a meal or cash, not to exceed $15 (but not both) to student-athletes at the time of their release by institutional personnel; (Revised: 4/25/02, 4/29/04, 5/2/05, 5/9/06, 12/12/06, 4/24/08 effective 8/1/08) 16 AW A RD S A N D B EN E F IT S (3) Meals in Conjunction with Away-from-Home Competition. An institution may provide meals to student-athletes in conjunction with away-from-home competition pursuant to one of the following op- tions: (i) All student-athletes are permitted to receive a pregame or postgame meal as a benefit incidental to participation in addition to regular meals (or meal allowances per Bylaw 16.8.1.2.3). An institution, at its discretion, may provide cash, not to exceed $15, in lieu of a postgame meal; or (Revised: 5/9/06, 4/24/08 effective 8/1/08) (ii) All student-athletes are permitted to receive meals at the institutionís discretion from the time the team is required to report on call for team travel until the team returns to campus. If a student- athlete does not use team travel to return to campus, he or she may receive meals at the institutionís discretion up to the point he or she is released from team-related activities by the appropriate institu- tional authority. An institution shall not provide cash to student-athletes in lieu of meals under this option. (Adopted: 4/24/08 effective 8/1/08) (e) Vacation-Period Expenses. The institution may provide the cost of room and board to student-athletes (during official institutional vacation periods) in the following circumstances. If an institution does not pro- vide a meal to its student-athletes under such circumstances, a cash allowance may be provided (except for the permissible additional meal as described below), not to exceed the amount provided by the institution to institutional staff members on away-from-campus trips: (Revised: 4/17/07) (1) Student-athletes who are required to remain on the institutionís campus for organized practice sessions or competition during the institutionís official vacation period. If the student-athlete lives at home during the vacation period, the cost of room and board may not be provided by the institution, other than to permit the student-athlete to participate in team meals incidental to practice sessions; (Revised: 1/14/97, 10/28/99, 5/26/06) (2) Student-athletes who return to campus during the institutionís official vacation period occurring during a regular academic term (not including vacation periods between terms) from institutional competition. Under such circumstances, room and board expenses may be provided beginning with the student- athleteís arrival on campus until the institutionís regular dormitories and dining facilities reopen. If the student-athlete lives at home during the vacation period, the cost of room and board may not be provided by the institution; or (Adopted: 10/28/99; Revised: 5/26/06) (3) Student-athletes who return to campus during the institutionís official vacation period between regular academic terms (e.g., summer-vacation period) from institutional competition that occurs at the end of the institutionís playing and practice season or a segment thereof. Under such circumstances, room and board expenses may be provided for no more than a 48-hour period, beginning with the student-athleteís return to campus. If the student-athlete lives at home during the vacation period, the cost of room and board may not be provided by the institution. (Adopted: 10/28/99; Revised: 5/26/06) In addition, an institution, at its discretion, also may provide an additional meal (as opposed to the cash equiva- lent) to student-athletes to meet nutritional needs as a benefit incidental to participation during each day of any vacation period, provided the student-athlete is required to remain on campus to be involved in practice or competition. (Adopted: 4/29/04; Revised: 1/8/07 effective 8/1/07; 4/17/07) (f) Meals Related to Institutional Committee Service. A student-athlete who serves on an institutional com- mittee may receive expenses to cover the cost of a meal missed as a result of a committee meeting that occurs when regular institutional dining facilities are open; (Adopted: 8/11/98) (g) Nutritional Supplements. An institution may provide only nonmuscle-building nutritional supplements to a student-athlete at any time for the purpose of providing additional calories and electrolytes, provided the supplements do not contain any NCAA banned substances. Permissible nonmuscle-building nutritional supplements are identified according to the following classes: Carbohydrate/electrolyte drinks, energy bars, carbohydrate boosters and vitamins and minerals. (Adopted: 4/27/00 effective 8/1/00; Revised: 11/1/01 effective 8/1/02)

If you go to NCAA regulation 15.2.2.1 it specifically address "Off Campus Room and Board Stipends" as follows:

If a student-athlete lives and eats in noninstitutional facilities, the institution may pay the student-athlete an amount equal to the institution's official on-campus room allowance as listed in its catalog, the average of the room costs of all of its students living on campus or the cost of room as caculated based on its policies and procedures for calculating the cost of attendance for all students. The institutioin also may pay the student-athlete an amount that is equivalent to an on-campus 7-day or 21 meal board plan or the cost of meals as calculated based on its policies and procedures for calculating the cost of attendance for all students, excluding those meals provided as part of the training table. Meals provided on the training table shall be deducted at the regular cost figure from such a student-athlete's board allowance.

It appears from the above,that under NCAA guidelines, student-athletes are allowed to live off campus and schools are allowed to pay the cost within certain guidelines. The fact that UP does not allow athletes to live off campus has to be a negative to some prospective recruits.

Thanks for looking that UP Bluffer. I was thoughly confused because I am sure the UCLA compliance department is top notch (remember the parking debacle with the football team years ago)?

Anyway I only brought this up because UP's policy on athletes living off-campus has been an unpleasant surprise to some of older players who have had enough of the dorm after the first year. I cannot only think that it makes it harder for us to get athletes that can "write their own ticket" at other schools.

I'm confused. Do Pilot athletes really not get to live off-campus? Kelsey Davis' NCAA blog says in her first post: "I no longer live in the dorms so free food is a hot commodity to me. " Unless there is some type of non-dorm official UP housing off-campus, what's the story?

I heard that former defender Kelly Cronkrite lived in a house near campus owned by her parents (and her soccer-playing Pilot brother had lived there earlier), so again, wassup?

Is there a great GK coach for girls in Illinois? If Dees is as good as you all say, she is one of three young ones from Illinois. Two of the GKs selected for the U17 WC team also are from Illinois. Along with Courtney Verloo and our Cloee Colohan. See the following article: http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_10420228.html

As an aside, who is Kate Bennett (Clyde Hill, Wash.)? She's also a midfielder on the U17 team.